May 22 is designated by the United Nations as the International Day for Biological Diversity to promote awareness on the loss of biodiversity and issues involved. The theme for 2020 is “our solutions are in nature”.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community faces the opportunity to reassess its relationship with the natural world. Despite technological advances, humans rely on a healthy and vibrant ecosystem for health, water, medicines, clothing, fuels, shelter, energy and more.

This year's theme is an opportunity to eemphasize the need for humanity to build a future that coexists with nature in all respects, and to see the importance of strengthening resilience of countries and communities as the world recovers from the pandemic. The year 2020 is the final year of the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan on Biodiversity. It is also the final year of the 2011-2020 United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, and the transitional phase for the 2021-2030 United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a continuance of another decade for the recovery of the ecosystem.

According to Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), “Biodiversity loss is a direct result of our short-sighted human activities including uncontrolled mining and infrastructure development, unsustainable farming and deforestation”. She also added that all these activities have degraded ecosystems and have created the conditions that lead to events like possibly the pandemic. In conclusion, she reiterated that “While the world is striving to end this pandemic, we all need to take urgent concerted and collaborative actions to build a resilient and sustainable global economy that incorporates nature at its heart, even as we build back from the crisis”. 

Reference

CBD International Day for Biological Diversity - 22 May 

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki (Research Strategy Office)